Vengeance & Malédiction

Les Méandres presents the first concert of the season 2019/2020. During our "Persona" concert on June 23, we invited you to explore the art of living at the court through masks and disguises. This season, we're beginning with anger and fury! Woe to those who can not hide their passions in this new royal order, because they may be banished! Come and attend an evening of magic and bewitching, where betrayal and fortune rub shoulders with infernal demons worthy of the worst nightmares! The dawn of absolutism in France is marked by a period of great political uncertainty. The kingdom barely recovered from the Wars of Religion of Henry IV that he must now adapt to the centralizing policy of Richelieu. This policy had the effect of annoying the noble families, who felt betrayed by the crown. In 1635, Pierre Corneille wrote Medea, a tragedy in 5 acts giving the floor to the nobles of France by the mouth of Medea. But manners change. The work will receive a mixed reception from the public, especially by the cardinal himself, who understands the gesture of defiance that the playwright tries with his work. The image of the enchantress filicide, although present before Corneille, will remain in the memories and the history of Medea will become a staple of the musical and dramatic production of the Baroque era. It is in this troubled and revolted context that we will present two great Greek figures embodying this refusal of the natural order: Medea and her aunt Circe. Moreover, since they were both betrayed by their lover, we will complete the program with the Ariane cantata, which knew a similar fate, Philippe Courbois. The concert will be held at La Chapelle Saint-Louis (4230 Drolet Street, Montreal) on October 4, 2019, at 7 pm, at a cost of $ 20 per person ($ 15 on presentation of a student card) payable in cash cash or card. Tickets will be available at the door on the night of the concert.